Grades

Hey, Little Ant

To squish or not to squish? Readers decide the ending of this deceptively playful picture book, in which a young boy and an ant debate the value of the smaller creature's life. The boy tells the ant that someone so small couldn't possibly have any feelings, and that he's a crook for stealing food at picnics. The ant replies that he has a family and responsibilities, and that he and the boy are really not so different. How would the boy feel if the situation were reversed? Issues of ethics and peer pressure are also raised in the discussion. Hey, Little Ant was originally written by a nine-year-old girl and her father as a song, and music is included. The rich watercolor illustrations offer unusual perspectives and add humor to the debate, which will have students eagerly taking sides. Certain to spark discussion, this lively picture book also works as a sing-along.